September 18, 2025

174. From Hong Kong to the Nations

44 minutes

As we continue our Thailand25 series, many of you will remember Rey from Hong Kong and how God used him to see movement among Filipina maids. In this episode, Rey continues to share the journey of seeing movement in and from Hong Kong. In July 2022, Rey pioneered Discovery Obedience Bible Studies (DOBS) in Hong Kong parks with Pilipino maids. What began as one small step of faith has now grown into multiplying disciple-making communities (DMCs) in Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, and even Japan. Rey’s obedience to the Holy Spirit has opened the door to multiplication down to third and fourth generations of disciples. His passion is clear: “We are not in the business of making believers but disciples.” You’ll be encouraged as Rey explains how God is using simple obedience, a clear disciple-making vision, and a commitment to multiplication to bring transformation from Hong Kong to the nations.

Highlights from Rey’s Journey

Early Exposure to Movements

Since 2016, Rey was exposed to disciple-making movements through experiences in Israel, India, and Myanmar, which grew into a deep passion and became the focus of his Master’s thesis in Hong Kong.

From Pastor to Movement Pioneer

His church in Hong Kong adopted DMM principles—but only as a growth strategy, not a true disciple-making movement. The spark eventually faded.

2022: Rey resigned from traditional church ministry, rejecting offers from large churches.

During quarantine, while fasting and praying, God’s answer surprised him: not to join another church, but to start doing DMM himself.

July 2, 2022: Rey launched the first DOBS group in a Hong Kong park.

Multiplication Across Nations

Hong Kong:

Now 110 active disciples.

3 DMCs (up to 4th generation).

201 baptisms over the last three years—monthly beach baptisms with new believers.

20 women in training to become “DMM pastors,” preparing to return to the Philippines.

Macau: 1 group, 8 active disciples, 3 disciple-makers.

Philippines: Communities in the north, central, and the Muslim south (Mindanao). Over 100 active disciples in multiple generations.

Japan (Yokosuka, near Tokyo): Filipina women reaching out to bar owners and families. Baptisms and new groups forming into a multiplying community.

Disciple-Making Process

Rey uses DOBS (Discovery Obedience Bible Studies): Discover, Obey, Bible, Share.

He has developed different levels of scripture sets:

Seekers – discovering Jesus.

Disciples – going deeper.

Leaders – training for multiplication.

Vision & Tools

Rey always gives the vision upfront: everyone is called to be a disciple-maker.

He even draws people a simple path: Seeker → Believer → Disciple → Disciple-Maker → Leader.

Anchors everything in key Scriptures: Matthew 28:18-20 (Great Commission), Matthew 22:36-39 (Great Commandment), Acts 1:8 (Need for Holy Spirit to be witnesses) and 2 Timothy 2:2 (Multiplication of disciples).

DBS format follows the 4Ws:

Worship

Watch (share stresses)

Word (Head, Heart, Hands)

Work (commitments & sharing).

Why Listen?

Rey’s story is one of courage, obedience, and multiplication. From humble beginnings in a park in Hong Kong to movements multiplying in the Philippines and Japan, Rey’s testimony challenges us to rethink church, embrace disciple-making, and trust God’s Spirit to lead.

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By Dave Lawton